Method of operating microsurgical instruments

• US 6,773,445 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2002
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Novartis Ag
• Original Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Inventors: Huculak, John C., Finlay, Russell L., Jung, Christopher C., Furniss, William W.
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, VY Q
• Application Number:
  US10/321,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20030078609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 606/107, 606/167-168, 606/170-180, 604/22, 604/119, 128/276, 128/305
• US Class Current: 606/170
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320783 through side-hole, e.g. sliding or rotating cutter inside catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0019 Means for setting or varying the pulse width
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00194 Means for setting or varying the repetition rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00544 pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00763 with rotating or reciprocating cutting elements, e.g. concentric cutting needles atherectomy cutting instruments A61B17/3207; endoscopic cutting instruments A61B17/320016

Abstract

A method of operating a microsurgical instrument, such as a vitrectomy probe, is disclosed. The probe includes a port for receiving tissue and an inner cutting member. A flow of tissue is induced into the port with a vacuum source, and the member is actuated in a cyclic manner to open and close the port over a plurality of cut rates. A duty cycle of the member is varied with the cut rate to vary the flow of the tissue into the port. The method yields the ability to adjust flow rate into the probe and aperture of the probe for a given cut rate so as to effectively perform a wide variety of vitreoretinal surgical objectives.

Claims

1. A method of operating a vitrectomy probe, said probe comprising a port for receiving tissue and an inner cutting member, comprising the steps of:

providing a foot pedal having a generally vertical range of motion;

providing a vacuum source;

fluidly coupling said vacuum source to said probe;

inducing a flow of said tissue into said port with said vacuum source; and

actuating, in response to a movement of said foot pedal, said inner cutting member in a cyclic manner to open and close said port over a plurality of cut rates, wherein said cut rate is at a highest value and an open size of said port is at a smallest value when said foot pedal is proximate a fully undepressed position, said cut rate is at a lowest value and said open size of said port is at a largest value when said foot pedal is proximate a fully depressed position, moving said foot pedal in a downward direction decreases said cut rate and increases said open size of said port, and moving said foot pedal in an upward direction increases said cut rate and decreases said open size of said port.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said cut rate is at a lowest value and said open size of said port is at a largest value when said foot pedal is in a fully depressed position.